HOPE- Unwilling To Shift, But You Do not Give Up

BUT YOU DO NOT GIVE UP

Whenever we see a child or family on the streets, we can tell the pain and agony these precious people go through. We love them and remind them of God’s plan for their lives. Their rescue however, comes with tremendous challenges. We do not always share success stories because some children end up on the streets again or some die and others end up in Jail.

About four years ago (Sept 2016), Tumaini team met a boy on the streets who had a broken foot. We befriended the 13 years old Josee* and got him out of the streets back into his family.

At home, his foot was treated and discharged out of hospital. The family was stable to cater for Josee’s basic needs and his father was actually a pastor meaning that Josee’s spiritual growth was also taken care off.

First 2 years after his reintegration, he was in school but life on the streets and its enticement kept sidetracking him. Severally we would be called to go counsel him and after our last visit, we were assured of Josee’s great progress.

Little did we know that he was not intending to continue with education at some point and he even disappeared from home. He went back to the streets and his father rescued him again but Josee truancy continued. He was later arrested with stolen goods and was taken to jail where he is serving his two years term. From our recent follow up, his father insisted that his son should stay the whole jail term for not listening to his parents and community. Josee’s case highlights few of other case of children rescued but later chose their way and some are in approved school. Resistance is real. Redemption comes from God and If one of them is unwilling to shift, we don’t force them. We continue praying for them

But not always do children get side tracked…many of our reintegrated children are progressing well toward their restoration. Many are completing primary schools and desiring to join high [dropcaps] 1 [/dropcaps] . Others are completing secondary schools and looking forward to joining universities, colleges and vocational training… Every child on the streets deserves a second chance. Many have genuine cases why they were once on the streets. So where is the help?

In a case like Iren*, 15 years old girl, after struggling through primary school with a sickly mother, as a first born she learnt to support her father in taking care of their needy family. Many times she would miss classes but not one time did she drop out. Her father was also overwhelmed for most of their family resources ended up in her mother’s treatment. In all this, Iren managed to complete her final primary school exam last November and she did her best given the circumstances that had surrounded her. She got 237 marks which was a good score to secure her a place in a secondary school. With 4 siblings behind her, that was it for Iren.
It can be very difficult when a parent is unwell for a long time. Iren’s family was overwhelmed by the cost and hence had no hope of ever joining a secondary school.
As a first born, she found work at her tender age to work as a shop attendant away from home and earning 4000Kshs, the whole amount went into supporting her mother and other family needs. When the team met with her, she wanted to go back home and had no means since she had been dismissed from work unfairly. “But I have come to realize education is important if I wanted to succeed in my life. If I am able to get education I could do better things and become a better person and help my family better. I wanted to go to school but I just don’t have the chance. That why I request to help me to go back home to try my chance again….”
Iren desire and hope is to go to secondary school and supporting her with school fees, it is empowering her family.
She has an admission letter a Girls secondary school but the fee is what is hindering her from being in the school.